Jungle church in Kelantan faces demolition

By Debra Chong
September 17, 2010

The new church in Pos Pasik is 70 per cent done but faces being torn down. - Pictures courtesy of Colin Nicholas from the COAC.


GUA MUSANG, Sept 17 — An Orang Asli church under construction in the Kelantan interior is at risk of being torn down by the local land office.
Temiar Christians in Pos Pasik, an Orang Asli village some 70km northeast of here, were earlier this month ordered by the Department of Orang Asli Affairs (JHEOA) to halt work on their concrete church house, its pastor, Moses Soo told The Malaysian Insider today.

The JHEOA had written a letter dated August 9 to the village chief, Setmen Bin Belungei, informing the latter his “application to build a church has not been approved”, Soo related.

A copy of the letter was made available to The Malaysian Insider. No reason was given for the rejection.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/jungle-church-in-kelantan-faces-demolition

“It’s not the first time they’ve done this. The first time was in Kampung Jias, near Gua Musang,” said the Raub-based Christian evangelist, representing an inter-denominational group called Gospel to the Poor.

“We’re afraid they may repeat the same thing here,” he added, sounding worried.

Three years ago, another Temiar village had its brick church torn down by the local land and district office, allegedly for illegally building on state land.

The Christian villagers in Kampung Jias claimed they had a right to build the church under native land laws and took the authorities to court, suing for damages.

Pos Pasik Christians currently worship in a bamboo church, which needs to be replaced every two to three years. - Picture courtesy of Colin Nicholas from the Center for Orang Asli Concern.They won, but have yet to see any compensation as the case has been referred to the Court of Appeal.
“No date has been fixed for the appeal hearing,” Soo said, when asked the status.

Over 500 Temiar in Pos Pasik have embraced Christianity since 2001, the preacher claimed, adding that the parish has been worshipping in a bamboo hut.

It was only early this year that the parish received enough funds to build a concrete structure.

“The villagers requested us to help them build a concrete church after their homes became concrete in 2008,” Soo said.

The preacher collected some RM50,000 in donations for the parish. Work began in May. The new church is 70 per cent done.

The Christian villagers have engaged a lawyer to represent them, but have yet to file a suit.